UNSMIL Calls on Libyans To Strengthen Legitimacy, Resolve Differences Through Political Dialogue

Tripoli, 30 April 2013 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is closely following the recent developments in the country, including the siege of Ministries and other State institutions in the capital Tripoli.

While UNSMIL stresses the basic right of all Libyans to express their demands by peaceful means, it underlines the need for all to abide by the principles and goals of the Libyan revolution, in which the revolutionaries played a historic and decisive role and paid dearly to achieve it. These principles revolve around the building of a modern and strong state based on democracy, rule of law and human rights.

UNSMIL emphasizes once more the need for all Libyans, including the revolutionaries who were instrumental in liberating the people from dictatorship, to join efforts at this critical stage of their country's democratic transition to build the State and support its elected bodies and legitimate institutions. The Mission also stresses the need for all to create a conducive environment for these institutions to be able to carry out the duties entrusted to them by the people and to ensure that their authority, the integrity and credibility of their decisions are respected.

UNSMIL urges all Libyans to adhere to constructive dialogue to resolve their differences in accordance with the principles of democracy as the way forward to achieving the goals of the revolution.